Description
Lead your school into the AI era with confidence, compliance and clarity.
Leading AI in Schools guide is a practical handbook for school and trust leaders navigating the risks and opportunities of artificial intelligence in education. This easy to understand guide is written in plain English (not technical IT jargon) for UK education professionals – headteachers, senior leaders, governors, DSLs and MAT executives, who need to implement AI responsibly, safely and in line with school improvement and safeguarding priorities.
Written by Adrian Precious MBA FCMI, school governor and alumni of the Oxford University AI Programme, this guide offers clear and usable strategies to help you lead your school or trust through AI adoption and digital transformation.
What this Ai guide covers:
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Creating your school’s AI strategy and policy
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Meeting GDPR and Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE 2024) AI compliance
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Training staff to use generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot and Canva safely
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Managing AI risks with an easy to implement classification system
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Building an AI register for digital governance
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Using AI to reduce workload without compromising professional judgement
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Communicating clearly with parents and other key stakeholders
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Promoting ethical, inclusive and transparent use of AI in schools
Who this AI guide is for:
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Headteachers developing a whole-school AI strategy
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Governors and trustees with responsibility for oversight and compliance
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Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) and Data Protection Officers (DPOs)
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Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) leaders implementing cross-school digital governance
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Senior leadership teams planning AI training, policy and communication
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Teachers and support staff using AI in lesson planning, admin or assessment
What You’ll Get:
✅ AI policy and risk register templates
✅ Staff AI prompting guide and training checklist
✅ A traffic light AI risk system
✅ Fully aligned with DfE, Ofsted and ICO guidance
✅ Written in plain English with comprehensive guidance and practical tools
✅ Glossary of AI terms relevant to the education environment
Contents:
Executive Summary
Introduction
Chapter 1: Why AI Belongs on the Leadership Agenda
Chapter 2: What ChatGPT and Generative AI Actually Are
Chapter 3: What AI Can and Cannot Do in Schools
Chapter 4: Creating a Vision-Led AI Strategy
Chapter 5: Writing an AI Policy That Works
Chapter 6: Building and Managing an AI Registry
Chapter 7: Governance, Risk and Ethical Oversight
Chapter 8: Training Staff and Leading Cultural Change
Chapter 9: Getting the Most Out of School AI Technology
Chapter 10: Supporting Pupils to Use AI Ethically, Safely and Responsibly
Chapter 11: Using AI to Support Inclusion, Accessibility and Personalised Learning
Chapter 12: Data Protection, GDPR and Child Safety in the Age of AI
Chapter 13: Writing a Stakeholders AI Policy
Chapter 14: Managing Resistance and Balancing Traditional and AI-Enhanced Practice
Chapter 15: AI for Non-Educators and School Administrators .
Chapter 16: Summary – Leading AI in Schools with Strategy, Safety and Confidence
Appendix A – AI Leadership Framework for Schools
Appendix B – Simple School AI Governance Policy
Appendix C – Staff AI Tool Assessment Checklist
Appendix D – Using a Traffic Light Risk Rating System to Manage School AI Tools
Appendix E – AI Prompting Guide for Educators
AI Glossary for Educators and School Leaders
Format: Digital PDF
Length: 67 pages
Published by: WhatIsAI.co.uk, 2025
Written in: UK English | Professional educational tone
Category: Artificial Intelligence, AI, AI in education, school leadership, digital strategy, safeguarding, GDPR, governance